As an Italian architect living and working in the Philippines, I am often asked whether my work at my company, IDC, is a blend of Italian and Filipino styles. There is one element that always informs my designs and that is climate. Italy and the Philippines share some similarities in their respective climates. Italy is dominated by a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters. The hottest months are June, July and August. The Philippines, meanwhile, is tropical and maritime. According to the country’s weather bureau, its climate is “characterized by relatively high temperature, high humidity and abundant rainfall in April, May and June. January is Italy’s coldest month while in the Philippines, December and January are the coldest months. In historical perspective, Italian architecture contains classical-ideas of ancient Roman and Greek architecture. Meanwhile, the Spanish architecture which appears in the Philippines has a lot of Mediterranean and Northern European influences. As a result, it is common to see churches around Italy that have some similarities with the Philippine churches. Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte The great German architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe said, “architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space.”   As well as being the will of an epoch, I believe architecture must also represent a culture and climate. Moreover, I believe architecture must also satisfy the requirements of the client. Once the needs have been met, style comes in.  Having said that, the blending of my Italian design heritage with the Philippines as my new adopted home is a combination of Filipino culture with Italian flair. I enjoy the challenge of putting all the best elements together for each and every project that I design. Florence Cathedral in Italy Furthermore, IDC’s projects support sustainability through the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE). Italian influences-such as minimalist elegance in an eco-friendly environment and comfortable living in a sustainable environment—are manifested in every IDC project. Our peers have recognized IDC for its pro-environment projects in Primavera Residences and its sister property, Primavera City, which consists of seven eco-friendly towers in uptown Cagayan de Oro. They  bagged the Asia Pacific Property Awards’ Best Mixed-Use Development in the Philippines. They have also been named finalists for CTI Private Financing Advisory Network’s Most Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunity. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X.

A rchitects have a unique and important approach to sustainable development. In my own journey as an architect, I was an advocate of sustainability even before green development became trendy. I was aware of the consequences of unplanned development, pollution, waste management, and the permanent legacies of the built environment in cities, whether positive or negative. Fortunately, that journey has led me to the Philippines, a progressive and dynamic country where I have been lucky to share my environmental vocation as a designer and developer. My company, Italpinas Development Corp (IDC), is proudly a design-forward developer of green buildings in the Philippines. As important as architectural design is to IDC’s offerings, I feel that location and accessibility are equally important for design to truly make an impact. This is why IDC is focused on emerging cities in the Philippines. I believe that the Philippines is quickly becoming a highly developed, multi-faceted economy, with urban centers throughout (and not just in Metro Manila). At the cusp of this growth, emerging cities are truly the face of the future, where new modes of design and development can redefine Philippine urbanism. With their innovative design and accessibility to the market, our first two projects were both located in Cagayan de Oro City. They were Primavera Residences, and Primavera City. Primavera Residences is a twin-tower, 10-storey mixed-use condominium complex. Primavera City is also a mixed-use development, featuring dining and shopping destinations, offices, and residences, and is designed for completion in four stages. Both have been warmly received by the market in Cagayan de Oro City for their innovative green features, high quality and affordability. I am also excited to tell you we will be bringing our sustainable brand to the Southern Tagalog region through the Miramonti Green Residences in Santo Tomas, Batangas. IDC also achieved a milestone this year when we entered economic housing segment through the planned Verona Green Apartments, also in Cagayan De Oro City. Just like our earlier products, these latest projects will be rated by EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). We are honored that our efforts have been recognized by reputable and prestigious organizations such as the International Property Awards, Asia Pacific. In 2015, IDC was awarded for Best Mixed-Use Development in Primavera Residences by the International Property Awards, Asia Pacific. In 2017, we emerged as winner in Best Mixed-Use Development for Primavera City by the International Property Awards, Asia Pacific. As IDC, it is in our cultural DNA to care for the environment. The people working in IDC share the same values of promoting sustainable development. I am glad that our message and advocacy of sustainability is resonating with younger people. Applicants to our company tell me the reason they want to work with IDC is the fact that it supports and promotes sustainability in its work. In short, IDC walks the talk. As we celebrate Earth Day this month, I agree that architects have a big responsibility together with engineers, planners and politicians to build a sustainable environment for the succeeding generations. Everybody must be conscious and concerned about wasteful consumption, pollution, reducing carbon footprint and other major environmental concerns. It is the responsibility of every individual to take care of our planet. There is no plan B because this Earth is our only home. As Gandhi once said: If you want a change, be the change. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

As the great Bob Dylan said “these times are a changin.” As expected, the threat of climate change continues and is set to outpace other, more time-bound issues, such as the pandemic, and political crises. On the bright side, I am happy to tell you there are technologies in the construction industry to counter the effects of climate change such as the Building Intelligence Model (BIM). The use of technology in combating climate change I am an advocate of performance-based design strategy and use of software. It is extremely important for me to use software technology in the design of homes  in response to the challenges  such as typhoons, storms and floods posed by climate change. By using software, you can gather the data and conduct simulation exercises to determine the strength and stability of a structure. There is also the parametric architecture software which is a mathematical modeling that is very  popular in industries such as manufacturing. My company, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), is accredited by the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) program. EDGE was developed by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) as its ratings system in support of its resilience framework. EDGE is a widely accepted ratings standard in protecting homes from climate change and global warming in more than 170 countries. Aside from developing well-designed buildings, IDC has been able to design sustainable structures with the great assistance from EDGE. Walking the talk IDC walks the talk as far as using EDGE is concerned. Our company’s second flagship development in Cagayan de Oro City, Primavera City- Citta’ Verde, has received relevant recognition by achieving the EDGE Preliminary Certification.  IDC is also developing Miramonti Green Residences in Santo Tomas in Batangas. Just like the Primavera Residences and Primavera City in Cagayan de Oro City, Miramonti also has an EDGE rating. Green is the way to go We promote sustainable design through our products and our advocacy that the option to “go green” must be accessible to many people. An advocacy that is limited to high-end products cannot have a meaningful effect. Our company also gives importance to affordability to ensure a large segment of the market can benefit from the sustainable lifestyle. As an architect, I admire sustainable Filipino designs, and I draw inspiration from them.  The bahay kubo , though simple, is an elegant distillation of many sustainable practices that are ingrained in Filipino design.  These include lateral ventilation, upward ventilation (through the raised floor) and use of local materials.  These traits are visible in traditional Filipino designs for urban dwellings as well, which often feature stone construction at the street level, and then lighter wood construction above, with numerous openings for the movement of fresh air. This is just a singular example of how Filipino architectural heritage is a treasure trove of inspiration for contemporary architects. When this age-old design wisdom is combined with the power of technology and software, together with the creativity of a skilled architect, the future chapters of Filipino architecture are sure to be the brightest. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on Twitter (@romolonati)

I am proud and happy to announce that our company Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), the publicly listed boutique real estate development firm, recently inked an agreement with JLL Philippines, the local arm of JLL, the worldwide leader in commercial real estate advisory and services. This cemented a partnership between the two companies for JLL’s all-inclusive property management of IDC’s new project, Primavera City, in Cagayan de Oro. Our company has built its young but dynamic portfolio of real estate offerings with a focus on green and sustainable design, located in highly prospective emerging cities with marked demographic and economic growth. IDC’s first project was Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro City, which was followed by Primavera City, also located in the province, the vibrant hub of Northern Mindanao.  These are joined by Miramonti Green Residences, which is the company’s first offering in Luzon, now rising at Santo Tomas, Batangas. Our new partnership with JLL represents the mutual commitment to quality and service that is shared by both JLL and IDC. We found in JLL an excellent match to our corporate culture, which is uncompromising both in fundamentals and in minute details.  The result is a superior product, matched with superior service for our clients and end-users. Although IDC is built on excellence in design, I believe good real estate has many facets. We have the best engineers and contractors to execute our architectural vision, and now we also have the best property management services in JLL, to assure that clients and end-users have a seamless experience in enjoying IDC properties. The partnership is only the start of many more positive developments we in IDC will continue to offer to our clients, our communities, the real estate sector and most of all, to the country. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

F ilipino architecture always amazes me. I am very interested in the historical heritage of the Philippines—from modern to Spanish period designs, as well as the ancestral forms like the famous  bahay kubo . I think there may be an under-appreciation of value and the status of such a structure as the  bahay kubo . For me, the  bahay kubo  represents a concept that is viable and relevant even today. The elements and performance-based features of a  bahay kubo  can be utilized in designing much bigger buildings such as condominiums. The  bahay kubo  was designed to blend with its location and environment. Its materials were sourced to fit the environment. The  bahay kubo  also promotes natural horizontal and vertical ventilation which enables it to deliver a pleasant flow of air or good ventilation. You will also notice that the  bahay kubo  was designed to be detached from the ground, allowing a family to raise livestock for their daily needs. Today, such elevation could be used for further ventilation, or for protection from flooding. I also love the Spanish architecture-inspired houses and buildings I’ve discovered while going around the Philippines. Interestingly, I also discovered a lot of Spanish-inspired historical houses and buildings in Cagayan de Oro, Batangas, and in many other places I visited in the Philippines. I admire Vigan for promoting and preserving its historical sites.  Preserving historical and cultural sites will provide cultural and economic benefits. On the cultural side, this will enable the people, especially the younger generation, to reconnect with the rich cultural and historical past of the country. After all, culture is the soul of the country.  On the economic side, the tourism industry will provide a lot of employment opportunities to the people when local and foreign tourists visit these sites. Moreover, huge tourist traffic in these sites will also provide economic opportunities to the commercial establishments operating in these historic sites. The Italian experience is a classic case where the country has an excellent opportunity to appreciate its museums, churches, cities, and ancient ruins such as the Colosseum. Meanwhile, the economic benefits are manifested through the millions of tourists coming to Italy.  I encourage Filipinos to pursue all-out efforts preserving the country’s heritage and historical sites. I believe the private sector can be a good partner in this undertaking. Speaking of contemporary architecture in the Philippines, the Ramon Magsaysay Center is one of my favorite buildings designed by Filipino architects. I also got interested in the building as Architect Alfredo Luz had Italian-American architect Pietro Belluschi and Alfred Yee as partners. Born in Ancona, Italy in 1899, Belluschi moved to the United States in 1923 and finished his second degree as an exchange student and scholar at Cornell University in 1963. One of his famous works was the Pan Am Building in 1963 where he worked as one of the collaborators and design consultants. He was awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1972. I also like Leandro Locsin’s works such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Makati Stock Exchange building, the Church of the Holy Sacrifice at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, among others, because of their distinct sense of form and mass, including the “floating volume” effect for which the CCP is known.  Right now, I see many impressive architectural designs, mainly in buildings in Metro Manila (Bonifacio Global City, Makati, and Ortigas). At my company, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), we believe that inspired architecture has a place in cities throughout the Philippines, including the dynamic and emerging hubs where we locate our projects.  I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

As more people are becoming interested in acquiring property outside city centers, it would be helpful to look more closely at one of the emerging areas in the country, Batangas Province. It is known for very diverse resources like the Port of Batangas, beautiful beaches and mountains, one of the largest oil refineries in the Philippines, natural gas power plants, world-class resorts, historical architecture, among others. The improvement of major infrastructure in any area almost always assures progress and development. In the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) area, the government, together with private sector partners, has finished several infrastructure projects and is in the process of building more. The creation of a corridor that links north and south Luzon is very advantageous, and the connecting highway between Batangas and Lucena is sure to increase land values and unlock the vast potential in these places once it is completed and linked to the South Luzon Expressway near my company’s (IDC’s) project, Miramonti Green Residences. Located near Metro Manila, travel to Batangas is considerably fast and easy with the use of the new and upcoming roads. Batangas also offers beautiful and green open spaces, something that has become important to investors in all styles of homes, whether horizontal or condominium. I believe its natural environment is one of the reasons why Batangas continues to become more popular as a residential and business location, as well as a tourist destination. Many places in Batangas offer less polluted and less congested environments. The local government units are likewise progressive and investor-friendly. The company I founded together with my Filipino business partner Jojo Leviste, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), has recognized the potential of Batangas Province, particularly the city of Sto. Tomas, long before the current growth trend started. We began the development of phase 1 of Miramonti Green Residences in Sto. Tomas in 2014. Sto. Tomas is extraordinarily well connected, sitting right between Manila and the Port of Batangas, close to industrial parks, and with a stunning view of majestic Mount Makiling. This allows easy day trips to Metro Manila, as well as seamless access to the rest of the Southern Tagalog region. Property prices in Batangas are also more accessible than Metro Manila prices, which is another reason for increasing interest from investors and homebuyers. We are exceptionally proud of the beauty of Miramonti Green Residences, the spectacular view it offers, and its unique passive green features that allow unit owners to save power and water, something that directly benefits their health and finances. In fact, many people have told me it’s the most beautiful project that IDC has done so far. Miramonti Green Residences is a multi-awarded project rated green by EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), which is a rating framework of the International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Miramonti Green Residences was cited for Mixed-use Development by the Asia Pacific Property Awards Development for 2019-2020. With Miramonti, we wish to offer residents and investors the best that the province has to offer—comfort and convenience in a peaceful, natural, and healthy environment.

S ustainability is a term that is often linked to climate change. But there is such a thing as cultural sustainability, which refers to cultural beliefs and practices, heritage conservation, and the preservation of culture itself. Modern buildings benefit from great advances in technology and technique, but something that was built hundreds of years ago is irreplaceable because the disappearance of materials, skills, and patrimonial knowledge means that it cannot be rebuilt in the same way again. This is why well-preserved heritage structures are priceless and will become even more valued as time passes. In Italy, for example, some of the highest land values can be found around the vicinity of the Colosseum, because it’s an unmistakable and irreplaceable symbol of the city’s rich history. It all goes to show that proper maintenance of historical structures increases not just their own value, but the value of their surrounding areas, and also the economic and cultural wealth of the city as a whole. In the Philippines, I have seen many heritage assets like this one, and there are many opportunities to preserve these historical centers and heritage structures—from the ancestral houses and public buildings in cities like Manila to historical structures and heritage landmarks in various provinces across the nation. In the immediate term, these structures lend their unique charm to a place. In the longer term, however, we are only beginning to see the immense value that they will hold for their host communities, and for the country, as cultural treasures and as anchors for the conceptualization of strong local identities that give rise not only to valuable cultural tourism but also deep pride. Using old structures for revenue can help ensure that they will live for the future, instead of merely restoring them and leaving them unused. I’ve seen old buildings in Italy that have been renovated and are being reused as restaurants, pubs, libraries, hotels, and so on. The same concept can be seen in the Philippines in various heritage districts. It illustrates the advantages of welcoming private intervention to help bring back to life certain structures that have seen better days and to keep them alive with a new purpose. Another interesting aspect of refurbishment or retrofitting is green restoration—a way to renovate heritage structures in accordance with green building principles and techniques. It’s a beautiful marriage between technology and history, resulting in charming structures that present plenty of interesting solutions. By combining the irreplaceable built heritage found in our cities with new ideas and techniques, the potential for cultural sustainability in the Philippines is vast. Carlo Paalam, the 23-year-old boxer from Cagayan de Oro and a silver medalist in the men’s flyweight division at the Tokyo Olympics, recently received a new condominium unit from our company, Italpinas Development Corporation (IDC). Since 2018, we at IDC have been a strong supporter of Mayor Oscar Moreno’s Amateur Boxing Program where Carlo Paalam molded his boxing skills. And so we are very proud of Carlo’s achievement and grateful to him for bringing honor to Cagayan de Oro. His success comes at a particularly significant point in the country’s history when we are facing a pandemic, and his fellow Filipinos are struggling to find hope. His win at the Olympics inspires the country to believe and cope with today’s difficulties. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X .

C arlo Paalam returned to where it all started as he went back to his hometown of Cagayan de Oro following his historic win at the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old boxer visited his hometown for the first time after capturing the silver medal in the men’s flyweight division of the Summer Games, and went to Italpinas Development Corp’s Primavera Sales Office where he received his newest condominium unit from the company. “IDC is proud of Carlo’s achievement, we are grateful to him for bringing honor to Cagayan de Oro. The company has also been a believer in the city’s sports program, especially for the youth,” said Arch. Romolo V. Nati, IDC chairman & CEO. “His success comes at a particularly significant point in Philippine’s history when we are facing a pandemic, his fellow Filipinos struggling to find hope; his win at the Olympics inspires the country to believe and cope with today’s difficulties,” he added. Since 2018, IDC has been an immense supporter of Mayor Oscar Moreno’s Amateur Boxing Program where Carlo Paalam molded his boxing skills. “Everything that is happening to me now is beyond my comprehension, I am beyond grateful to the Almighty for all the blessings that I am receiving. And to IDC, thank you for recognizing my hardships, and for supporting the boxing program of the local government where it all started for me. Without your support from the previous years, my dream wouldn’t be a reality. Again, thank you IDC. ” said Olympic Silver Medalist Carlo Paalam. Cagayan de Oro is the second home of the Talakag, Bukidnon-born Paalam, where he was discovered and where he received his first training in boxing as a 10-year-old boy. Paalam is one of four Philippine medalists in the Tokyo Games, along with gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz and teammates Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial, who bagged silver and bronze medals, respectively.

I talpinas Development Corp (IDC) received the EDGE preliminary certification for Miramonti Green Residences Phase 1 from the Philippine Green Building Initiative Inc. (PGBI) last month. “We at IDC are, of course, delighted about this achievement and grateful to PGBI and EDGE for granting Miramonti Phase 1 this very important certification,” Arch. Romolo V. Nati, chairman and CEO of IDC, said.  “While there are a few green building certification bodies available for local developments, IDC chose EDGE because it is designed for the particular environment that we are developing in the Philippines,” he added.  EDGE takes into consideration these specific aspects and contextualizes its processes and systems accordingly.  After an initial third-party audit, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) found Miramonti Green Residences Phase 1 in Sto. Tomas, Batangas truly green and sustainable. This means that Miramonti meets the global standards for green building certification, in the same way that IDC is aligned with the UN sustainable development goals of (a) building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation (#9); and (b) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (#11).  According to EDGE, Miramonti Phase 1’s resource-efficient design will result in the reduction of 39% in energy, 52 percent in water, and 41 percent in embodied energy in materials, compared to a local base case.  Angelo Tan, the International Finance Corp’s Climate Business Country Lead for the Philippines, said “Italpinas is one of the pioneers of EDGE certification in the Philippines, playing an instrumental role in the growth of EDGE-certified buildings that we are now seeing across the country. As an EDGE Champion, and with the successful preliminary certification of Miramonti, Italpinas continues to fulfill their commitment to sustainable development through their consistent approach to greening their real estate portfolio.” As a green building certification body, EDGE is an innovation of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. EDGE gives importance to passive green features, something that aligns with IDC’s basic philosophy of using passive green design strategies in all its developments.  All of IDC’s projects are green and sustainable, rated green by EDGE, and have so far received awards for best mixed-use building in the Philippines by the South East Asia Property Awards for several years. This is relevant not only for the prestige or recognition but because sustainability in green buildings has become greatly relevant for a lot of people in this pandemic. “We’re very happy with this development,” IDC’s Director and President Jojo Leviste said. “External accreditation from internationally recognized bodies is important to us, for confirming objectively that IDC’s design philosophy walks the talk.”

W henever we talk about Italian architecture, images of classical Roman structures come to mind—columns with intricate capitello (Dorico, Ionic, Corinzio, Composite), timpani, trabeazioni. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Square — they all bring us back to the old times; although Italian architecture, per se, actually reflects many different styles that characterize various  historical periods and movements: the Renaissance, Barocco, Neoclassicism, Rationalism, and up to today’s architectural marvels by some of the world’s most famous architects like Renzo Piano, to mention just one. Similarly, Filipino architecture is also composed of diverse styles. I have been living in the country for some years now, and this has given me an opportunity to appreciate and take a keen interest in them. Although there are so many different styles and influences throughout the country, three broad categories come to mind. One type that I have observed would be the Spanish-influenced structures like the ancestral houses, historical buildings, the heritage buildings on Escolta, etc. It’s great to see that they can still be found in many places nationwide and that many of them are well maintained. From my point of view, preservation and restoration are tasks that should be performed. Another type is modern Filipino architecture, produced just after the second world war. An example would be the Cultural Center of the Philippines main building, which was designed by  renowned Filipino architect Leandro Locsin. This type is characterized by the massive use of reinforced concrete and stereometric forms, reminiscent of Middle European Contemporary Architecture which, by the way, was greatly influenced by Italian Rationalism. Brutalism (named after “béton brut”, which is the French term for “raw concrete”) is a modern movement that is observed all over the world. But the examples that are here in the Philippines are particularly beautiful. 20thcentury Philippine architecture is very interesting and eclectic — going from Western neoclassical architecture to Chinese, Spanish, and then classical American. We can see that the same eclecticism that is found in Italian architecture can also be seen in Philippine architecture. Finally, the third on my list but the most long-standing would be the local vernacular architecture, including the endlessly adaptable bahay kubo, Ifugao dwellings with their elegant and precise wooden joinery, and the bahay na bato, which appear in our cities but echo the steadfast stone havens of windswept Batanes. These are all vastly different in style and character, but they are all purposefully designed and built based on the elements present in their location, and using locally available materials. They also represent an irreplaceable built heritage, a shared patrimony that is part of Philippine culture and history. For these reasons, I believe this is the most valuable among the categories. The designs were conceived and evolved here in the Philippines. They are ancient but adaptable to the present. When today’s architects choose to honor this rich heritage, and at the same time create high-performing buildings, these original Filipino design philosophies are both a treasure and an  indispensable guide. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

T he Philippines—with its over 7,600 islands and more than 36,000 kilometers of coastline—is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change. More than 60 percent of its population actually live within coastal zones where they could be severely impacted by climate disasters.  This is one of the reasons why the Philippines has adopted a progressive attitude as far as environmental conservation is concerned. The national and local initiatives are extremely laudable, all of which serve to further advance the implementation of the country’s ambitious Paris Agreement commitments.  The structures we inhabit are great contributors not only to our quality of life but also to the earth’s well-being. This is where architectural design, specifically green design, can help meet the country’s sustainable development goals.  As one of the early advocates of passive green design in the Philippines, our company, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), immediately recognized this crucial relationship between environmental conservation and green architecture. We made it our mission to contribute toward the reduction of the country’s carbon footprint with the use of environmentally efficient design and renewable energy in all of our developments. We make use of simple, cost-efficient solutions that make a big difference: enhancing natural ventilation to reduce the use of aircon, maximizing natural light in indoor spaces to reduce the use of artificial light, using shading to lower indoor temperature, harvesting rainwater and recycling water, producing sustainable power through the use of solar panels, and so on. As an architect, I see my work as part of efforts toward sustainability. My designs for IDC developments also reflect the goals of our organization: to provide energy-efficient structures tailor-made for the Philippine climate and are able to deliver world-class design and comfort to the Filipino consumer.  Fighting climate change is a huge task and there are so many ways to contribute, but I think the best and most consistent climate action would be to start with our own selves and within our own homes. A better world begins with the actions and solutions that we do today. Our lifestyle and daily habits—including the design of our homes and our choice of basic resources—form part of the overall solution. Miramonti Green Residences in Sto. Tomas, Batangas This country is in a good position to make a difference in the fight against the negative effects of climate change. And I do believe that the upward trajectory of the Philippine economy, which was undeniably affected by the pandemic, will continue beyond this time. With the cooperation of the government and the private sector, the Philippines can be a key player in the global movement for environmental conservation. We can also become a role model for sustainable development in Asia and in the world, but it is up to us to make it happen. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn , and on X .

M obility has always been a central aspect of urbanization. Two of the main problems in high-density urban areas are traffic and air pollution from transportation. A huge part of the population rely on private transportation and this may present a trade-off in the areas of resource utilization, health, and environmental protection. In a well-designed city, the roads allow for smooth mobility, less traffic, and improved flow of goods and services. Businesses should work with the public sector to improve urban mobility. Furthermore, each locality must present solutions that fit the specific needs of its residents. In the Philippines, I have observed this form of cooperation between the private sector and the government. For example, there are infrastructure projects being built by innovative businesses or through partnerships between the private and public sectors.  Since I arrived in the country many years ago, I have personally seen many public infrastructure projects finished and opened for use both in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in Cagayan de Oro, which I often visit. Many more are ongoing, which is a good trend that shows how the Philippines is catching up with its more advanced Asian neighbors.  There are a number of expansion works and new networks being created to decongest Metro Manila, EDSA in particular. The priority infrastructure projects that are scheduled to be completed this year include the Skyway SLEX Extension, the rehabilitation of the MRT-3, the BGC-Ortigas Link Bridge, the LRT-2 East Extension, and the MRT-LRT Common Station in the North Edsa area. In the pipeline is the railway project, which will connect NCR to several areas in Southern Luzon, including the Bicol region. It covers Calamba, Laguna; Batangas City; and Bicol (Matnog, Sorsogon, Legazpi, and Albay). This is good news for the manufacturing sector and the real estate industry, of course. Before, if you were to travel from Manila’s commercial district to your home outside the city, it might take you anywhere from three to five hours. But with the new road systems that have opened and networks being constructed, along with better public transportation systems, your travel time could be decreased by half. This is everyone’s opportunity to enjoy a natural home environment and lower cost of living, while being able to keep a job in the metropolis. It is apparent that the government’s infrastructure strategies will play a major role in the country’s economic recovery.  Finally, to further improve transportation in the country and uplift the people’s quality of life, investing in efficient public transportation systems and internet connectivity would definitely reduce traffic and air pollution. A recent study found that air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels results in the deaths of around 8.7 million people worldwide each year. Hence, the cities of the future need to take a serious look at how the air pollution problem is addressed. Environmental protection and the people’s well-being must be a central consideration in the design and development of these modern capitals. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on Twitter ( @romolonati ).